Explore average settlements from real Louisiana side-impact collisions. Look for payouts on cases similar to yours.

Side-impact collisions include T-bone or broadside crashes, sideswipe accidents, and any other impact along the side of a vehicle.

The average settlement for a moderate side-impact collision in Louisiana is $24,566. The payouts in our sample range from $2,525 for a minor shoulder injury to $649,780 for significant disc injuries.

Average Payouts for Louisiana Side-Impact Collisions

We calculated the averages from a group of Louisiana injury lawsuits arising from side-impact collisions within three categories of injury severity.

Average Payout by Severity of Injury
Minor Injury	$6,623
Moderate Injury	$24,566
Severe Injury	$154,394
Payout Range by Type of Injury
Neck and Back Injuries	$4,000 - $649,780
Head Injuries	$4,417 - $100,000

Factors Affecting Louisiana Accident Payouts

In Louisiana, car accident victims can pursue compensation directly from the at-fault driver, or the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Louisiana is a traditional fault or “tort” state, so victims don’t have to rely on their own insurance for injury claims.

The severity of a victim’s injuries is the main factor in valuing a side-impact collision claim. You can estimate the settlement value of a minor to moderate injury by adding up your economic damages, like medical bills and lost wages, then adding one to three times that amount to cover your non-economic damages, like pain and suffering.

Severe injury claims, including wrongful death claims, should be evaluated by an experienced personal injury attorney.

Other factors that influence injury payouts in Louisiana include:

• Accident Severity –  A side-impact parking lot accident with little vehicle damage will settle for a much smaller payout than a high-speed crash where the victim is cut out of a mangled car.
• Shared Fault – Louisiana is a pure comparative fault state. You can make a claim even if you share some blame for your injuries. Your payout will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
• Auto Policy Limits – Louisiana law requires drivers to carry auto insurance with no less than $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident bodily injury liability, and $25,000 property damage liability. The minimum liability limits may not be enough to cover significant injuries.
• Uninsured Motorist Coverage – Louisiana requires insurance companies to offer uninsured motorist coverage (UM) equal to the policy’s liability limits. Louisiana UM coverage can be used for injuries caused by a hit-and-run, a driver with no insurance, or a driver without enough insurance to cover your damages.
• Multiple Claimants – The at-fault driver’s insurance limits may not be enough to go around when multiple people are injured in the same accident.
• Venue and Jurisdiction – Some court venues have a history of high awards to injury victims. The insurance company may offer a bigger settlement to keep your case out of court.
• Punitive Damages: Louisiana only allows punitive damage awards in limited circumstances. Punitive damages are rarely awarded in Louisiana car accident cases unless an intoxicated driver causes an accident resulting in severe injury or death.

Minor Injury Case Examples

Minor injuries from a side-impact collision include soft-tissue bumps, scrapes, or sprains that will heal completely with little or no medical intervention following the initial examination. Most minor injury victims only miss a few days of work.

Passenger Suffers Shoulder Injury in Side-Impact Accident

Type of Injury: Right Shoulder Injury
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $2,525
Case Summary: Plaintiff was a passenger in 1st defendant’s vehicle which collided with a vehicle operated by the 2nd defendant when 1st defendant proceeded to make a right turn. Plaintiff sustained a right shoulder injury. Plaintiff contended the defendants disregarded traffic controls, failed to act in a safe and prudent manner and failed to take evasive action to avoid accident. Plaintiff sought compensation for pain and suffering, mental anguish and medical expenses. Defendants denied liability, with 1st defendant contending that there were no passenger injuries aboard his vehicle. The judge ruled in favor of plaintiff.
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Nelson v. Randolph, 03-13702

Side-Impact Collision After At-Fault Driver Runs Red Light

Type of Injury: General Back and Neck Injuries
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $4,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff and his passenger were involved in an accident when a vehicle driven by the defendant run a red light and struck their vehicle. Plaintiffs sustained neck and back injuries. Plaintiffs sued defendant and his insurer, claiming that Defendant drove in a reckless manner, failed to yield the right of way, ran a red light, and made an unprotected and unsafe left turn. Plaintiff sought compensation for pain and suffering, disability, medical expenses, and loss of consortium. Defendants admitted the accident occurred but denied other allegations. They asserted that plaintiff was reckless in driving. After a bench trial, each Plaintiff was awarded $4,000 in damages.
Location: Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Johnson v. Brown, 498288

Side-Impact Accident Injured Two Victims

Type of Injury: Back Injury- Bilateral lumbar strain, bilateral cervical strain, bilateral thoracic strain; Head Injury- Headaches
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $4,417
Case Summary: Plaintiffs, a driver and his passenger were involved in a motor vehicle accident when defendant attempted to pass their vehicle on the left side and struck the driver’s side of Plaintiff’s truck. Plaintiffs sustained bilateral lumbar sprain, headache, and thoracic sprains. Plaintiff sued defendant contending that defendant was negligent by driving at an excessive rate of speed, driving without a license, and attempting to pass in a no-passing zone. Plaintiff sought damages for medical expenses, lost income and disability. Defendants denied liability and contended that the accident was caused by negligence of plaintiffs. The judge ruled in favor of plaintiffs for $17,666.52.
Location: Parish of Tangipahoa, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Ourso v. Smith Jr., 2004-000172

Motorcyclist Injured by Side-Impact Hit From Backing Pickup

Type of Injury: General; General Injuries to Head and Neck
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $4,708
Case Summary: Plaintiff was driving his motorcycle when defendant backed up into it with his pickup truck. Plaintiff sustained general injuries to his head and neck. Plaintiff filed suit against defendant, claiming that defendant’s negligence caused him serious injuries. Defendant denied liability, arguing that little contact occurred between the two vehicles and that plaintiff claimed no injuries at the scene. The court found in favor of Plaintiff following a bench trial and awarded $4,000 for general damages and $708 for past medical expenses.
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Broussard v. Menard, 20030974-K

Side-Impact Crash Causes Chest Wall Contusions and Abrasions

Type of Injury: Head Injury- Head Contusion, Black eye, Abrasion, and cuts on the face; Other- Chest wall contusion and abrasions
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $6,087
Case Summary: “Plaintiffs were headed Southbound when a vehicle driven by the defendant made an abrupt left turn in front of their vehicle causing a collision. 1st Plaintiff sustained head contusion, abrasions, and black eyes. 2nd plaintiff sustained chest contusions, abdomen and chest abrasions. Plaintiffs sued defendant contending defendant failed to keep proper lookout and drove in a reckless manner. Plaintiffs sought damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering and inability to work. Spouse to second plaintiff also sought award for loss of wife’s society. Defendants denied liability asserting plaintiffs’ negligence. The Judge found in favor of Plaintiffs for $12,173.84.
Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Carboni v. Barton, 98523

Side-Impact Victim Award for Acute Neck Strain, Head Injury

Type of Injury: Back Injury- Acute cervical strain; Head Injury- non-concussive head injury
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $7,314
Case Summary: Defendant made a left turn, crossed into the path of, and collided with Plaintiff who was driving her car northbound. Plaintiff sustained acute cervical strain and a non-concussive head injury. Plaintiff sued defendant and his insurer for negligence, seeking compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, medical expenses, and other damages. Defendants denied liability and asserted the defenses of comparative fault, third party negligence and failure to mitigate damages. The court awarded Plaintiff $4,500 in general damages, $77.27 for lost wages and $2,737 for special damages.
Location: Parish of Lafourche, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number:O’Donley v. Walker, 95924

Red Light T-Bone Collision Causes Chest and Knee Injuries

Type of Injury: Chest Injury- Anterior chest contusion; Knee Injury- bilateral knee contusion and abrasion
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $7,375
Case Summary: Defendant ran a red light at an intersection and struck plaintiff’s car. Plaintiff sustained anterior chest contusion, bilateral knee contusion and abrasions. Plaintiff sought damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages, earning capacity and loss of enjoyment of life. Plaintiff added her own insurer claiming underinsured motorist coverage. Defendants denied liability contending that plaintiff was comparatively negligent and failed to mitigate damages. The jury returned a plaintiff verdict, awarding $3,875.40 for medical expenses and $3,500.00 for general damages.
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number:Root v. Gassen, 2001-1766-G

Failure to Yield Side-Impact Crash with Knee and Shoulder Injuries

Type of Injury: Knee Injury- Bilateral patellar contusions; General Injuries to shoulder, neck and headaches
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $8,232
Case Summary: Plaintiff was preparing to turn left when a vehicle operated by the defendant pulled out of a driveway into her path, causing a collision. Plaintiff sustained back and neck injuries, bilateral patellar contusion, headaches, and nausea. Plaintiff sued defendant and her insurer contending defendant drove out of a private drive into roadway without discerning whether it was safe. Plaintiff sought damages for medical expenses and lost wages. Defendant denied liability, and asserted the alternative defense that Plaintiff was negligent by improperly using the center turn lane for a travel lane. The judge ruled in favor of Plaintiff.
Location: East Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Norris v. Young, 516255

Broadside Crash Passenger’s Injuries Challenged by Defendant

Type of Injury: Back injury- Thoracic and Cervical Spine Injury
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $8,262
Case Summary: Defendant’s vehicle pulled out of a private lot and struck the driver’s side of the vehicle in which plaintiff was a passenger. Plaintiff sustained cervical and thoracic spine injuries. Plaintiff sued defendant and his liability carrier for violating standard traffic laws by failing to observe traffic conditions prior to entering the roadway. Plaintiff sought compensation for disability, lost wages and medical expenses. Insurance carrier denied liability and claimed that plaintiff did not seek medical attention and only presented to the doctor two months after the accident. The parties stipulated that Defendant was the sole cause of the accident and the judge assessed damages through a bench trial.
Location: Scott, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Babineaux v. Segura, 2004-1530 G

Side-Impact Crash Caused By Backing Out of Parking Space

Type of Injury: Back Injury- Cervical thoracic lumbar strain
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $8,475
Case Summary: Defendant’s vehicle backed out of a parking space and collided with plaintiff’s vehicle injuring a driver and his passenger. Plaintiffs sustained cervical thoracic and lumbar strain. Plaintiff sued defendant seeking damages for medical expenses and physical pain and suffering. Plaintiffs contended defendant failed to maintain proper lookout, backed up improperly and failed to exercise due care. Defendants denied liability, averring the accident was caused in whole or in part by the negligence of plaintiffs. The court ruled in favor of plaintiffs, awarding $4,180 to the driver and $8,475.19 to the passenger.
Location: Parish of Livingston, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Roshto v. Fletcher, 99365

Defendant Denied Liability for Side-Impact Collision

Type of Injury: Back Injury- lower lumbar pain, cervical strain/sprain
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $8,545
Case Summary: Defendant made an abrupt left turn in front of plaintiff’s vehicle causing a collision. Plaintiff sustained headaches, lower lumbar pain and cervical strain. The physician who treated him prescribed chiropractic adjustments for his back injuries. Plaintiff sued defendant and his insurer contending defendant made an illegal turn, failed to drive at a reasonable speed and failed to yield the right way. Plaintiff sought damages for medical expenses, lost earnings and property damage. Defendants denied liability. The judge entered judgment in favor of the plaintiff.
Location: Parish of Calcasieu, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Scott v. Avery, 2004-001177

Defendant Asserts the Side-Impact Victim Failed to Mitigate Damages

Type of Injury: Unspecified Soft tissue injuries
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $9,533
Case Summary: Plaintiff was driving through an intersection when a vehicle driven by the defendant made a turn in front of her vehicle causing a collision. Plaintiff sustained soft tissue injuries. Plaintiff sued defendant for failing to yield, failing to maintain proper lookout and failing to drive prudently. Plaintiff sought damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering while Plaintiff’s spouse sought award for loss of consortium. Defendants denied liability asserting that plaintiff failed to mitigate her damages. After a bench trial, the court awarded Plaintiff $4,000 in general damages and $4,532.50 in medical specials.
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Girard v. Baudoin, 2004-1467

Moderate Injury Case Examples

Moderate side-impact accident injuries can include concussions, extensive bruising and sprains, simple fractures, herniated discs, and other injuries that could take several weeks to resolve. Victims may be left with some residual effects, and could be out of work for several weeks or months.

Plaintiff Shares Fault for Side-Impact Collision with Truck

Type of Injury: General Injuries to neck, shoulders and back.
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $10,445
Case Summary: Defendant, who was driving a truck, attempted to pass the plaintiff who was driving ahead of him, causing a collision. Plaintiff sustained neck, shoulder, and back injuries. Plaintiff contended that defendant failed to exercise care in passing his vehicle and failed to maintain proper lookout. Defendant denied liability asserting that plaintiff caused the accident by making a left turn without signaling. Judge found defendant 70% at fault and plaintiff 30% at fault. The judge awarded plaintiff $7,500.00 in general damages and $2,945.00 in special damages after fault apportionment.
Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Cockerham v. Robinson, 503116

Court Award to Side-Impact Crash Victim with Fractured Sternum

Type of Injury: Chest Injury- Fractured Sternum
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $13,595
Case Summary: Defendant ran a red light and collided into a third party’s vehicle pushing it into plaintiff’s vehicle and causing collision. Plaintiff sustained a fractured sternum. Plaintiff sued defendant and his insurer contending defendant failed to maintain control of his vehicle and failed to stop at a red traffic signal. Plaintiff sought damages for mental anguish, physical pain and physical impairment. Defendants denied liability. Plaintiff requested defendant to settle the matter at $10,000 but defendant responded months later with a counteroffer of $7,200, which the plaintiff rejected. The case proceeded to trial. The judge ruled in favor in plaintiff.
Location: Parish of Lafayette, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Breaux v. Kately, 98-3168-K

Side-Impact Collision Victim Suffers Multiple Injuries

Type of Injury: Back Injury- Cervical sprain with spasm, lumbar sprain; Other- hip, thigh and chest pain
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $17,399
Case Summary: Plaintiff, a passenger, was involved in a motor vehicle accident when a car driven by the defendant failed to yield for the intersection and plowed into the front passenger side of Plaintiff’s vehicle. Plaintiff sustained neck and back strains, cervical strain with spasm, lumbar sprain, hip, thigh, and chest pain. Plaintiff sued defendant and his insurer contending defendant failed to yield the right way and did not apply his brakes in a timely manner. Plaintiff sought damages for medical expenses, braces and appliances, emotional distress and lost wages. Defendants denied liability. The judge ruled in favor of plaintiff.
Location: Parish of Rapides, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Sanders v. Lamb, 217407

Side-Impact Crash Victim Challenged for Delayed Treatment

Type of Injury: Right shoulder and Neck Injuries
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $26,129
Case Summary: Defendant was attempting to switch lanes on the highway when he crashed into plaintiff’s vehicle. Plaintiff sustained shoulder and neck injuries. Plaintiff sued defendant, co- defendant (owner of the vehicle) and their insurer. Plaintiff claimed defendant failed to obey traffic signs and drove at unsafe speeds while codefendant failed to keep proper lookout of her vehicle. Plaintiff sought compensation for loss of income, property loss, and medical expenses. Defendants denied liability and claimed that Plaintiff did not seek treatments until two months after the accident and that she was involved in a subsequent accident that caused the injuries. The Judge found in favor of Plaintiff.
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Roger v. Brooks, 2002-4277-F

Victim Suffers Shoulder Injury from Side-Impact Collision

Type of Injury: Shoulder Injury
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $30,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff was driving Northbound when a car driven by defendant made a left turn in front of oncoming traffic and collided with her vehicle. Plaintiff sustained a shoulder injury. Plaintiff sued defendant and his insurer contending defendant made an illegal turn across the traffic lane, disregarded the traffic signals, and drove in a careless manner. Plaintiff also claimed defendant’s insurer failed to honor provisions of its policy. Plaintiff sought damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages and earning capacity. Defendants denied liability asserting it was all plaintiff’s fault. The jury returned a plaintiff verdict.
Location: Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Levy v. Landry, 491408

Jury Award to Side-Impact Victim for Extensive Soft-Tissue Injuries

Type of Injury: General Injuries- Neck, back and leg injuries; Other- Hearing loss
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $34,043
Case Summary: Plaintiff was involved in a motor vehicle accident when defendant, operating a car owned by co defendant changed lanes without a warning causing plaintiff’s vehicle to strike the left side of defendant’s vehicle. Plaintiff sustained neck, back and leg injuries and loss of hearing. Plaintiff sued defendant, co defendant and their insurer seeking damages. Defendants denied liability and asserted the accident resulted from plaintiff’s negligence, in failing to “make his vehicle visible in low light conditions”. The jury returned a plaintiff verdict, but did not award any damages on Plaintiff’s claim of hearing loss.
Location: Parish of Lafayette, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Bernard v. Guilbeau, 2003-4413-A

Court Award for Injuries from High-Speed Side-Impact Collision

Type of Injury: Shoulder Injury- Left anterior shoulder contusion
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $40,355
Case Summary: Defendant failed to stop for a red light and struck Plaintiff’s vehicle. Plaintiff sustained left anterior shoulder contusion. Plaintiff sued defendant for negligence, contending that defendant drove at an excessive speed and failed to keep her vehicle under control. Plaintiff sought damages for pain and suffering, income loss and vehicle rental expenses. Defendant admitted liability but contended that Plaintiff failed to mitigate her damages. The case was tried on damages only. The bench ruled in favor of Plaintiff, awarding $9,645.61 in medical expenses $3,209.22 for lost wages $25,000.00 for pain and suffering and $2,500.00 for loss of consortium.
Location: Parish of Lafayette, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Quesada v. Martin, 2004-3031

Severe Injury Case Examples

Severe side-impact collision injuries can include serious internal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, extensive disc damage, spinal cord damage, and complicated or multiple fractures. Victims may be left with some level of permanent disability that impacts their wage-earning capacity.

Side-Impact Crash Award for Extensive Back and Leg Injuries

Type of Injury: Back Injury- Lumbar spine Injury, Back Sprain; Leg Injury- Injuries to knees, legs and calves
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $50,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff was driving Southbound when the defendant’s vehicle which was Northbound on the same road swerved, struck the guardrail causing a chain reaction collision. Plaintiff sustained injuries to his knees, lumbar spine, legs, calves, and toes. Plaintiff sued defendant and her insurer claiming defendant failed to keep a proper look out, failed to drive at a safe speed and failed to avoid the accident. Defendants denied liability, asserted the plaintiff was negligent and had been involved in a prior accident. The judge ruled in favor of plaintiff.
Location: Parish of St. Tammany, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Reich v. Ramirez, 2006-13590

Truck Driver Liable for Side-Impact Collision

Type of Injury: Back Injury- Injury: Cervical sprain, lumbar strain, facet joint sprain in lumbar spine, Other- carpal tunnel syndrome
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $60,247
Case Summary: Plaintiff attempted to pass defendant’s truck on the left side when defendant placed the truck in reverse, backed down the service road and pinned Plaintiff’s vehicle. Plaintiff sustained cervical sprain, muscle contraction, headaches, lumbar sprain, carpal tunnel syndrome and ligament strain. Plaintiff sued defendant, asserting that he used the travel lanes improperly. Plaintiff sought damages for injuries suffered. Defendant denied all liability, contending that Plaintiff placed her vehicle in his blind spot. The judge found in favor of plaintiff.
Location: Parish of Rapides, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Adkinson v. Scott, 211930

Defendant Admits Liability for Side-Impact Crash Injuries

Type of Injury: Arm Injury- Left elbow fracture, triceps tendon rupture, right thumb contusion, second degree burns to left forearm
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $65,702
Case Summary: Plaintiff was involved in a motor vehicle accident when a vehicle driven by the defendant made an illegal left turn in front of his vehicle causing collision. Plaintiff sustained left elbow fracture, triceps tendon rupture, thumb contusion and third degree burns to the left arm. Plaintiff sued defendant and his insurer seeking damages for medical expenses, lost earnings and loss of pleasure in life. Defendants stipulated to liability, leaving damages to be allotted by the court. The plaintiff was awarded $55,000 in general damages and $10,702.35 in special damages.
Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Munson Jr. v. Sevin Jr., 486953

Jury Award to Passenger Injured in Side-Impact Collision

Type of Injury: Back Injury- disc bulge at L3-4 and disc herniation at L4-5; Other- Headaches, neurological injuries
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $80,000
Case Summary: Defendant was attempting to make a left turn when he struck a vehicle injuring a plaintiff who was a passenger in the subject vehicle. Plaintiff sustained neck and back injuries, internal disk disruption and a disk bulge. Plaintiff sued defendant, his insurer and her own liability carrier. Plaintiff contended defendant drove negligently. All Defendants denied liability. The jury returned a plaintiff verdict, awarding $35,000.00 for pain and suffering $2,000.00 for mental distress and $43,000.00 for past medical expenses.
Location: Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Schmidt v. Harvey, 504022

Bicyclist with Pre-Existing Injuries in Side-Impact Crash with Truck

Type of Injury: Back Injury- Central disc herniations at L4-5 and L5-S1, General Injuries to neck, head and teeth
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $100,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff was hit while riding his bicycle by a truck driven by the defendant. Plaintiff sustained central disc herniations at L4-5 and L5-S1, head, neck, and teeth injuries. Plaintiff sued defendant for negligence for failing to keep a proper lookout. Plaintiff sought damages for pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. Defendants denied liability, contending that Plaintiff be assigned contributory fault for possession of crack cocaine at the time of the accident. The judge ruled in favor of Plaintiff but reduced plaintiff award from $150,000 to $ 100,000 due to pre- existing injuries.
Location: Parish of Ascension, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Poirrier v. Stevenson, 78942

Injured Plaintiff Shares Fault for Side-Impact Collision

Type of Injury: Back Injury- Herniated disc
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $100,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff was involved in a motor vehicle accident when a car driven by defendant ran a red light and struck his vehicle. Plaintiff sustained severe disk herniation. Plaintiff sued defendant for failure to stop for a red light. Plaintiff sought damages for lost wages, pain and suffering and property damage. Defendant denied liability, asserting that Plaintiff drove in a reckless manner. Jury found defendant 60% at fault and plaintiff 40%. The jury returned a plaintiff verdict, awarding $266,037.50, which was reduced to $100,000.00 by court per policy limits.
Location: Parish of Orleans, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Ghosh v. Johnson, 02-13385

Judgment Entered for Victim of Side-Impact Collision

Type of Injury: Back Injury- Lumbar spine injury; Other- Left knee injury
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $129,422
Case Summary: Defendant failed to yield the right of way and drove into plaintiff’s lane of travel at an intersection, causing a collision. Plaintiff sustained lumbar spine and left knee injury. Plaintiff sued defendant contending that defendant failed to yield and failed to maintain proper control of his vehicle. Plaintiff sought compensation for injuries suffered. Defendants denied liability and asserted 3rd party negligence. The Judge entered judgment in favor of the plaintiff in the amount of $65,000 for general damages, $13,090 for lost wages, $31,332.38 for medical expenses and $20,000 for pain and suffering.
Location: Parish of Orleans, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Alexander v. Zachery, 04-15642

Jury Verdict In Favor of Side-Impact Crash Victim

Type of Injury: Back & Neck Injuries- Disc herniations at C3-4 and C5-6 levels and at L4-5 and L5-S1
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $649,780
Case Summary: In the course of employment, Defendant lost control of his vehicle on a highway and struck plaintiff’s vehicle. Plaintiff sustained herniated disks in his back and neck. Plaintiff sued defendant, his employer, and their insurance liability carrier. Plaintiff contended defendant was negligent in operating the vehicle. Defendants denied liability and disputed extent of plaintiff’s injuries asserting the injuries were aggravated after plaintiff carried heavy cement while working as a swimming pool contractor. The jury returned plaintiff verdict, awarding $649,779.52 for past and future damages.
Location: Parish of Orleans, Louisiana
Case Name and Docket Number: Collins v. Hebert, 02-1322

Methodology

Our calculations are based on actual Louisiana lawsuits filed by victims injured in a side-impact collision. The group of cases does not include any wrongful deaths, or cases that did not result in a settlement or court award to the plaintiff.

Payouts reflect a court award or settlement for individual plaintiffs. In cases with more than one plaintiff, we used the highest payout awarded to a single plaintiff. The final settlement or award reflects any reduction for shared fault, if applicable.

Average settlements are calculated by adding the total payout in a group, then dividing by the number of cases in the group.